Choose Rotten Apple
Choose Rotten Apple if you want an Adventure game with Tracked Controller Support and VR Only. Rotten Apple launched in 2023.
Rotten Apple vs SynthwaveZ
Rotten Apple and SynthwaveZ both land in Action on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Action games on Steam. Rotten Apple (2023) is 1 year older than SynthwaveZ (2024). Both sit near 82% positive on Steam (Rotten Apple: 27 reviews, SynthwaveZ: 11). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose SynthwaveZ
Choose SynthwaveZ if you want the Color Alternatives, Custom Volume Controls, and Stereo Sound side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. SynthwaveZ launched in 2024.
Both Rotten Apple and SynthwaveZ sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Steam reviews are nearly tied (81.5% vs 81.8% positive), so genre fit is the cleanest tiebreaker — scroll the table for the feature-by-feature view.
Side-by-side comparison
 Rotten Apple |  SynthwaveZ | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2023 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Adventure | Action |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 81.5% positive (27 reviews) | 81.8% positive (11 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | VRilliant Studios | Shadow Games |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Rotten Apple (2023) is 1 year older than SynthwaveZ (2024).
- Both sit near 82% positive on Steam (Rotten Apple: 27 reviews, SynthwaveZ: 11).
- SynthwaveZ is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Rotten Apple (9.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
Rotten Apple vs SynthwaveZ — FAQ
- Should I play Rotten Apple or SynthwaveZ first?
- If you want chronology, Rotten Apple (2023) came out before SynthwaveZ (2024). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Rotten Apple and SynthwaveZ similar?
- They overlap on Action on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Rotten Apple and SynthwaveZ have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Rotten Apple ships Online Co-op, Co-op; SynthwaveZ ships Online Co-op, Co-op.